A Thought about Innovation on Labor Day

Today I received this interesting (and inspiring) Silicon Valley venture capitalist which I thought I would share with you on this Labor Day:

“Thomas Edison failed a lot more than he succeeded. In developing a commercially viable light bulb, he went through over ten thousand prototypes before getting it right. But Edison saw things differently, remarking, ‘I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work.’ Innovations emerging from the Global Silicon Valley often seem like magic. But the secret behind every game-changing invention or product is simple: Hard Work … This Labor Day weekend we salute the innovators who see the future and work tirelessly to build it.”

Whether or not you agree with venture investors, the key point is that most innovations that we individually or collectively aim to design in education will probably not be immediate overnight sensations. But by working together in learning and design communities and systematically using data and evidence to focus on real problems of practice, educators can increase the chances of making a big difference in the classroom, in schools and even around the country. Happy Labor Day!